, and severe sniper fire from all sides , eds ##on ' s men were joined by troops from the 2nd battalion , 5th marine regiment , who helped rep ##uls ##e two more japanese attacks before dawn . throughout the night , as ka ##wa ##guchi ' s men came close to overrun ##ning the marine defenses , eds ##on remained standing about 20 yd ( 18 m ) behind the marine firing line on hill 123 , ex ##hort ##ing his troops and directing their defensive efforts . said marine captain tex smith , who was in position to observe eds ##on for most of the night , " i can say that if there is such a thing as one man holding a battalion together
, and severe sniper fire from all sides, edson's men were joined by troops from the 2nd battalion, 5th marine regiment, who helped repulse two more japanese attacks before dawn. throughout the night, as kawaguchi's men came close to overrunning the marine defenses, edson remained standing about 20 yd ( 18 m ) behind the marine firing line on hill 123, exhorting his troops and directing their defensive efforts. said marine captain tex smith, who was in position to observe edson for most of the night, " i can say that if there is such a thing as one man holding a battalion together